Robert Siegel （Host）： Thousands of people sentencedunder the tough drug laws of the 1980s and 90s are still in prison. Theyre serving mandatory minimum sentences that require them to spend decades， if not life， behind bars. Today people convicted of the same crimes serve far less time. NPRs Carrie Johnson has the story of a man named David Padilla whos serving a life sentence in one of those earlier cases. Carrie Johnson （Byline）： David Padilla lives here…

（Soundbite of metal door slamming）

Johnson： …Inside this medium-security prison in Fairmont， New Jersey. Hes lived here for 18 years now， since his arrest in November 1996. A year later a judge found him guilty of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. David and his codefendants moved drugs out of a Philadelphia hotel in a dark-colored suitcase. State police later found two handguns and a trap door in their borrowed van. David had two previous drug charges. The prosecutor in his case asked the court to weigh those priors and the judge sent him to prison for the rest of his life. Sitting on a tan-colored plastic chair in the visitors area and looking back on sentencing day， he sighs.

David Padilla： Theres no doubt in my mind that I feel I should have been punished—no doubt about it. But I dont agree that I should die in prison.

Johnson： Lisette is Davids wife of 27 years.

Lisette Padilla： I guess through the years， you know， hes been away， he has become a better person， a better man.

Johnson： They met as teenagers in Philadelphia， neighbors. Back then， David was a kind of celebrity on the block—high school prom king， a bit of a bragger. And though he was an honor student， David says college never crossed his mind. Eighteen years away， Lisette says， have changed him.

Lisette： David is an amazing man， amazing father. He works so hard， you know， and Im so proud of you know what he has accomplished all these years. I think prison was a good thing for him.

Johnson： In 1997， the judge branded him a career offender who had squandered his potential. Heres a glimpse of what he accomplished since then. Behind bars David found an unlikely passion， dentistry. He works in the prison lab， work that puts a smile on his face and a shine in his eyes.

David： I wouldve never imagined that these hands will make a denture for somebody， these hands will make a prostheses for someone. I never thought I can do that.

Johnson： David also finished an associates degree in college. Ask and hell give the credit for his close-knit family and his own turnaround to his wife.

David： I really owe it all to Lisette because shes been mommy， shes been daddy， shes been a supportive wife. Shes been my everything. She had options. I gave her options.

Lisette： The day of the sentencing， he turned around.

He tells [sic] me，‘go on with your life. And I told him，‘No. I told him， ‘No， Im here for you. You know？ Things get hard， Ive got to be there for you， you know， regardless. Were his voice in the outside world. I believe that when two people get married its forever.

Johnson： All these years， every year， Lisette says she takes her vacation around their wedding anniversary in August so she can visit him multiple times in a week. And though their children were young when he was sentenced， hes remained a big part of their lives， nudging and even nagging them about school and doing the right thing. David said he had two choices when he got sent to prison for life—continue on the road to destruction or be a model for his three kids.

David： I have to show them that I can be good， that I can do what Im telling them to do. So every time I would get grades in the semester， I would send them my grades—this is what Daddy got， these are my grades， show me your grades.

Johnson： Davids oldest daughter， Sasha， now 26.

Sasha Padilla： I remember this project on Italy. It was one of my biggest projects. And he actually went into the library， he got the encyclopedia， printed-out pages for me and while Im looking at the photocopies he has [sic] the book. So were conversing back and forth on whats more important， what should I write？ What should my thesis be？

Johnson： Sasha says shes always felt a deep attachment to her dad. David now age 47， also mentors young offenders. And just as Davids been preparing himself in prison， Lisette says she and the children have been preparing themselves too， for a day they can only hope for. During Davids long incarceration， shes squirreled away anything that could document her husbands transformation. Finally last winter， David heard about a new effort known as Clemency Project 2014， to help people serving long sentences for nonviolent drug crimes. Authorities held out the promise of pardons or early release for inmates who wouldve been sentenced to less time if they committed crimes today. And pro bono lawyers were looking for prisoners who might make model cases. Attorney Jeremy Klatell describes [sic] why he took on this case.

Jeremy Klatell： The consistency over the 18 years of Davids incarceration， with which he has dedicated to rehabilitating himself as a person， cant really be faked. Hes never had a single disciplinary infraction and we are utterly convinced that David is a different person than he was 18 years ago.

Johnson： Davids petition is now under review and though hes excited， prison has taught them to temper his emotions. He says hes in no rush. Hes been waiting for 18 years and he doesnt want to set expectations too high.

David： My hopes to be with my family once again， to reestablish my household， to be the so-called captain of the ship one more time. Thats my hope. Lisette： Hopefully we rebuild， a new beginning—be able to hold hands or take a walk in the park， walk down the beach， you know， things that we miss.

Johnson： Lisette will show him the colors she painted the living room， the hardwood floors she sanded. She wants a new kitchen， but she says shes saving that job for him.

羅伯特·西格尔（主持人）：20世纪八九十年代，受到毒品法严格制裁的数千人至今未能获释。他们强制服刑的最低期限，如果不是终身的话，也要长达数十年。如今，犯同一罪行的人的服刑时间大大地减少了。NPR的嘉莉·约翰逊了解到大卫·帕迪拉的故事，他是在那些早期案例中被判处终身监禁的人。

嘉莉·约翰逊（撰稿人）：大卫·帕迪拉住在这里……

（金属门关闭的声音）

约翰逊：自1996年11月被逮捕起，至今他在新泽西费尔蒙一所中等戒备的监狱里生活了18年。被捕后的第二年，法官发现他与他人共谋藏匿并意图贩卖可卡因。大卫和他的共犯用一个深色的手提箱把毒品从费城的一家酒店中运送出去。之后警察在他们借来的货车中发现了两把手枪和一个暗入门。大卫之前已经有两起有关毒品的控告。负责他这个案件的检察官要求法院权衡他之前所犯的罪行（作出判决），法官最后判处他终身监禁。在来访室，坐在棕褐色的塑料椅子上，回首着监狱里的日子，他叹气了。

大卫·帕迪拉：我打心眼里认为自己应该受到惩罚——毫无疑问。但是我不认为自己终生都要在监狱中度过。

约翰逊：莉泽特是大卫27年的妻子。

莉泽特·帕迪拉：我想这些年来，你懂的，他不在我们身边，变成了一个更好的人，一个更好的男人。

约翰逊：他们年少时就在费城认识，是邻居。在那时，大卫在那一带小有名气——高中舞会之王，有点爱吹牛。尽管他是优等生，大卫说他没有想过要读大学。莉泽特说，这过去的18年却改变了他。

莉泽特：大卫是一个很棒的人，很棒的父亲。他认真工作，你知道吗，我很为他这些年所取得的成绩感到骄傲。我认为坐牢对他来说是件好事。

约翰逊：1997年，法官给他贴上了浪费自己潜能的职业犯的标签。我们来简单了解下自此之后他取得的成绩。在狱中大卫对牙科产生了一种意想不到的激情。他在监狱的实验室工作，工作让他的脸上有了微笑，眼神有了光亮。

大卫：我从来没有想过这双手能给别人做一副假牙。我没有想过我能做到。

约翰逊：大卫还取得了大专的文凭。如果你问他，他会把家庭的团结以及自身的转变都归功于他的妻子。

大卫：我真的亏欠了莉泽特，因为她一直以来又当妈又当爸，她一直都很支持我。她是我的一切。她曾有过选择，我给过她选择。莉泽特：宣判那天，他转过头来。他告诉我：“继续你的生活。”我告诉他：“不要。”我告诉他：“不要，我要在这里陪你，你懂吗？现在很艰难，无论如何，我都必须陪着你，你懂吗？”我们是他在外面世界的声音。我相信当两个人结婚了，就是一辈子。

约翰逊：莉泽特说这些年来，每年八月份她都会在他们结婚周年日期间出行，这样她一周就能见到他好几次。尽管他被判决时他们的孩子还小，但是他仍然是他们生活中重要的一部分，他不断谈论甚至唠叨他们在学校的事，告诉他们要做正确的事情。大卫说当被判终身监禁时，他有两个选择——继续走向毁灭或是给他三个孩子做一个榜样。

大卫：我必须向他们展现我能行，我能做到让他们去做的事。所以一学期中我每次拿到分数，都会寄给他们——这就是爸爸的分数，给我看看你们的分数。

约翰逊：大卫最大的女儿莎莎，今年26岁了。

莎莎·帕迪拉：我记得有一次我要写一篇关于意大利的论文。这是我最重要的论文之一。而他真的去了图书馆，找到了百科全书，把它复印了给我。当我看着那些影印本的时候，他拿着书。所以我们反复地讨论什么更重要，我应该写什么？我的论点应该是什么？

约翰逊：莎莎说她总是对爸爸有一种深深的依恋。大卫如今47岁了，他还在教导着年轻的罪犯。正如大卫在监狱中做着准备一样，莉泽特说她和孩子们也在为他们唯一能期盼的那天做准备。在大卫长年的监禁中，她保存着任何能够证明丈夫转变的文件。终于在上一年的冬天，大卫听说了一个叫“2014仁慈项目”的新举措，旨在帮助那些因非暴力毒品犯罪而长年服刑的人。当局承诺会赦免或者提前释放那些如果按当今法律判决刑期更短的罪犯。免费提供（法律援助）的律师们正在寻找那些能成为典型案例的犯人。杰里米·科莱特律师解释为什么他要接（大卫）这个案子。

杰里米·科莱特：在长达18年的监禁中，大卫一如既往地努力改造自己成为一个好人，这点毋庸置疑。他从来没有违反过一次纪律，我们完全相信，他和18年前已经不同了。

约翰逊：大卫的请愿书现在已经在审查中，尽管他很兴奋，但是监狱的生活告诉他要稳定自己的情绪。他说他不急。他已经等了18年了，不想期望过高。

大卫：我的愿望是能再和我的家人在一起，重振我的家庭，再次成为所谓的一家之主。这是我的希望。

莉泽特：希望我们能重新开始——手牵着手在公园散步，在沙滩上漫步，你懂的，那些我们曾经错过的事情。

约翰逊：莉泽特会给他看她给客厅刷的颜色，她用砂纸磨的硬木地板。她想要一个新的厨房，但是她说会把这项工作留给大卫。